A controversial power project drew hundreds of protesters to the Alberta Legislature this afternoon.
Hundreds gathered to send a message about a proposed system of high voltage transmission lines known as the Heartland Transmission Project.
"We're not a nimby organization, this isn't just for this one power line or this one route...wherever you put it, put it underground," said Bruce Johnson of Responsible Electricity Transmission for Albertans.
If the project goes ahead, it would be the largest of its kind in Alberta, stretching 65 kilometres, from south of our city to a substation northeast of the city. The lines are about twice the size of any other high-voltage powerlines anywhere in Alberta, but it's not just the size of the towers that has people concerned.
"There's so many studies that show really, really strong correlations, not cause and effect but pretty close between the electromagnetic fields that eminate from these high voltage lines and leukemia and alzheimers," said John Kristensen of RETA.
Although those threats have not been proven, many in the proposed path of the transmission lines aren't willing to take any chances.
"I just think it's a much more reasonable solution to have the lines buried underground especially near where we're going to be living and where our kids are going to be living and growing up," said a resident who lives near one of the proposed lines.
The project is far from a done deal. Public hearings begin next month. The hope is the power of persuasion can transform the project into something more palatable.
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